Octagonal-shaped structure



SePt- 2, 1958 K. w. coUsE ET AL 2,849,755

OCTAGONAL-SHAPED STRUCTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 24, 195'? @Zan Meyy K. w. cou`sE ET AL OCTAGONAL-SHAPED STRUCTURE sept. 2, 195s SePt- 2 1958 'I K. w. cousE ET A1. 2,849,755

OCTAGONAL-SHAPED STRUCTURE:

Filed April 24, 1957 f 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aing an enlarged open octagonal-shaped member.

yQual-Shaped, and partially ctgonalslaped stru .For eXainpl, they ylay be Used 'in blinding eiistr for occupaney by liiina'ns, or fr Athe storage of goods. In building strutture-S, the octagnl, of partially tgl(snai, p'aiieiiiiay be used is faire ali, qi a @einen er any -of the building components, i. e., 'the floor, r

United States Patent 2,849,755 OCTAGONALSHPED STRUTR 'Kibbey W. Couse and Robert Sutphen, Newark', N121., as signors to Couse Manufacturing, Inc., Newark, N. J., a corporation of New `lersey Application April 324-, 1957, 'serial N. 654,938 12 laims. (l. `20mg-f2) This invention relates 'to stietures, and 'more' partieularly to Structures utilizing triangular-shaped building units therein.

In the structures contemplated by our invention the 4triangular-'shaped building units are in theforni of hat, right isosceles triangular-shaped, panels. The -panels are adapted to be joined together in an edge'w'ise abutting relation, and may be joined together in a manner forin- The octa'gonal-shaped member is made by joining o'ne shortlength side of each of eight (8) of 'the right isos'celes triangular-shaped building Yunits to the longsid'e of 'ea'ch adjacent triangular-shaped-unit in a manner wherein the other 'short-length side of -each triangular-shaped unit forms the outer peripheral edge of the octagonalLsli'aped jpanel, while a portion of the long' side Aof each forms an .inner edge of an octagonallshaped opening in the result- .ant panel.

Other structures contemplated by our invention include only a portion, or part', of the open octgonbshaped panel described above. Obviously, a portion, or part,

-ofsuch an octagonalsha'ped structure .may be for'rhed by 1 using fewer than the eight (8) triangular-'shaped building :units necessary to form rthe c'oinplete oetagonal forni.

A wide 'varies/ of uses are c'niempnted fer' the etagof, cei ng, walls, ete. Further, the octagonal-shaped opening wliieh .resultsin the complete o'ctagonal panel, may be iitilized ,as a hatcliway or passageway. 'I f desired, the passageway .may be provided Vwith sliding doors made of Atwo of the right triangular-shaped buildingY units. A silo-'type building for the storage of grain, and the like,iiiy' be fr-med 'by using the oetgonallshpedpnels 's a'i roof, .and connecting the outer edges thereof by elongated rectangular-shaped 'side wal1s.

The type of struct're's made in accord with invention are ni'iiiiiir'ed, however, to bndiiigstret' es. -Octagnakshaped panels may, for example, be used in Yforming 'end members of ponton's, for` pontooiitype bridges. When used for this purpose, triangiilar-shaped units of the type utiliied in the c'nstructionof the octagi'ial pontoon ends ina'y be used f6 forn'rbth t'lie pontoon `ends and supporting beam lstructure between dje'nt .lIlSa Triangular-shaped biiilaifig iiiiits wiiieh-iiiay se asediii the various structures contemplated by our invention` are described iii our eoipeiidiiig United stages pitten appiatt- 'iiQii seiia1 No. 515,298, ined ocio-Bei 16, i956, fid etititied structural Panel Member, Deans f yfastening -devices for joining the building units together yare also shown our above-'mentioned cio-pending t'ia't'e'ri't applica- 'tion. It will be understood, however, anysuitble tringlrishaped panel members and fastening I'neaiis fr 2,849,755 LPatented Sept. 2, 1958 ice joining the panels may be used in the structures of'ur 7'15re'se'ntinvention. Fastening means which permit easy 'assembly and disassembly of the building units are 'tireferred, in order that the structres maybe easily and quickly erected land dismantled. The buildingunits may vbe sent to the building site in a disassembled Vera'ted conditiom and assembled at the site to form 'any of the desired structures contemplated by our invention.

An object of this invention is the provisionof an imbiovide structure comprising right isoscelestria'ngularshaped building units of uniform size joined together in octagonal shape or form.

An object of this invention is the prov onor octagonal-shapedbuilding structure comprising a yiioor and roof of substantially identical shape, r z i` h coifijijpri-sing a pluralityof right isosceles triangular-Shapedbuilding `units joined together in octagonal `form .in nianner wherein one shor'tlength side of 'eaeh ytriang'ularfshaped building unit forms one outer peripheral ed'ge ofthe roof and floor, and a portion of the long diagonal sid'e'of each of the said triangular-shaped building units forms one inner. peripheral `edge o f an octagonal-shped openirig shaped structure, cover members positioned the openings in the open o'ctagonal-shaped end structures; emiigtea' 'rctaiiguiai-shaped side members joiiiezi fegether along adjacent long edges,' and joined along the short edges thereof to the outer peripheral edge the said end members, and means eiitending throug'lithe said struture detachably joining the said cover members togeiser'.

These and @the/f objects and' adviltgjiii-Betie apparent from the following description the acompanying drawings. It will be understood the drawings are f or purposes of illustration andare' n'itto` be e'nstriied as d ening the scope or oftlieiliventiom reference being had for the latter purposes 'to the ppended claims'.

In' the drawings'-whereirilike reference char'ac'iters` denote like parts in the several views: Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of one form o'f building structure embodying our in vent'ioi'ij` Figure 2 is a View taken on line 2- of l` Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical side sectional view f aiioto bridge; Y 1

Figure 4` is afragmentary top view of the bridge shown inlise; Figure 5 isa v rtical end vsectional view of bridge, parts' beingshown broken away for clarity; and

Figure 6 isV a vertical sectional View of a building strii'etiirevr erected upon an ice mass andl embodying our invention.

retiene is nbwmade ,to Figure v 1; Qf, i 1e 1".fevilts wherein' there vis shown an octagonal{shapec l buildirig designated by the reference numeral 10. The building "thereof tol vertically extending side Walls designated genformed in one of the walls 12 by the removal of oneiof the square-shaped building units from the wall. A ladder 17 extends from the floor 11 of the building up'thr'ough openings in the intermediate iloor levels 11b, to thereof 11a. The openings in the oors and in the roof" are adapted to be closed, or substantially closed, by sliding,

doors or panels, designated 19. While the building illustrated in Figure l is four (4) stories in height, it will be understood that our novel building structures may be erected to any desired height.

The octagonal shape of the building 1t) is best shown in the horizontal sectional view of Figure 2. Referring to Figure 2, it will be seen that the iloor`11b comprises eight (8) right isosceles triangular-shaped building units 21 fastened together in an open octagonal shape. Each triangular-shaped building unit in the iloor is joined to the adjacent triangular-shaped oor units; the long diagonal side of each oor unit being fastened to a shortlength side of the adjacent oor unit in a manner wherein a portion of the long diagonal side of the units form an octagonal-shaped opening designated 22 in the oor. The outside peripheral edge of the resulting octagonal-shaped door comprises the other short-length sides of each triangular-shaped building unit, which sides are joined to the s'ide walls 12.

As seen in Figure 2, the building doors or panels 19 comprise two triangular-shaped building units 21 which are slidably mounted adjacent short-lengthsides designated 23, to the oor 11b adjacent the connection between triangular-shaped floor units. The two triangular-shaped units 21 of the sliding doors 19, slide in parallel directions on the floor 11b in the directions indicated by arrows 24. The ladder 17 prevents the doors 19 inthe intermediate oor levels 11b from completely closing the openings 22 therein. It will be understood, that upon removal of the ladder, the doors 19 in the floors 11b may be completely closed in an abutting manner. Further, the doors 19 may be slidably attached adjacent any parallel joints in the floors or roof (the doors 19 on the floor 11 and roof 11a being shown joined thereto in a manner wherein the abutting joint between members 21 of .the doors is at right angles to the long diagonal sides of the triangular-shaped units 21 in the doors 19 on the intermediate iloor levels 11b).

The building units are joined together by elongated spline,

or Ibinder members 28 having enlarged edge portions (not shown in the drawings); the binder members being snugly slidably receivable in the enlarged bottomed grooves in adjacent building units. The sliding connection for the doors 19 may be provided by the use ofV members 28 which are similar in construction to the binder members 28, except that the members 28 have one enlarged edge which is easily slidable in the groove in the floor. All of the connecting means are diagrammatically illustrated in the drawings.` Details of connecting means which are suitable for use in the construction of the octagonalshaped structures are shown and described in our abovementioned co-pending United States patent application.

When the triangular-shaped members 21 of the doors 19 are closed in an abutting manner, as illustrated bythe doors 19 on the oor 11 and roof 11a, the two units may be joined together with a binder member 28,. A

large square-shaped door, the size of one of the squareshaped members 13, results when the triangular-shaped members 21 are joined along their long diagonal edges.

It will be understood, if the intermediate floor levels 11b are not needed, or are undesired, that the wall members 12 may be made of elongated panels of any desired height, rather than being made of a plurality of squareshaped members 13 joined together in an abutting manner, as shown. The elongated wall panels are preferably (but not necessarily) one short-length side of a triangular-shaped building unit 21 in width, and any multiple integral of such short length in height. If desired, the elongated members may be provided with face grooves at any desired level, or levels, for the attachment of intermediate oors 11b.

The building units of which our novel building structures are constructed may be made of metal, wood, plastic or other suitable material, but are preferably made of plastic having many desirable properties, which properties include a high strength to weight ratio and excellent durability. When the building units are used for the erection of buildings of the type illustrated in Figures l and 2, they are made relatively large in size; the triangular-shaped units 21 being preferably seven (7) feet long at the short-length sides thereof and approximately two inches thick. Because of the large size, relatively few building units are needed to form a completed building structure of the type illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. Despite the large size, the building units are easily handled manually in the erection of a building structure when the units are made of relatively light-weight material, such as plastic.

In the building structure 10, illustrated in Figures l and 2, it will be seen that only two basic sizes and shapes of building units are utilized; the triangular-shaped building units, and the square-shaped building units 13. For this reason, the building units are easily packed for shipment to the building site. Also, after the units are unpacked at the site, a minimum of time is necessary to erect the building, due, both to the large size of the units, and to the interchangeability of the identical shaped units.

Reference is now made to Figures 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings, wherein there are shown various views of a pontoon bridge, designated generally 31, which bridge incorporates octagonal-shaped members 32 made of a plurality of triangular-shaped members 21a. The bridge comprises, generally, a plurality of pontoon members 33 upon which a roadway structure 34 is positioned. The pontoon members 33 include the octagonal-shaped end members 32, joined together by elongated side members 36. The triangular-shaped members 21a, which are used in the end members are joined together in the manner described above in the construction of the floor and roof of the building 10 of Figures l and 2, thereby resulting in the open octagonal-shaped end member. End cap members 37 are suitably secured to the outer-most side of the open octagonal-shaped end members 32, over the openings therein. Rods 38, having an eye member 39 formed on one end and having threads at the other end, extend through holes 41 in the end caps 37. Annular sealing members 42 provide a water tight seal between the rods and the end cap members. As seen in Figure 5, a turnbuckle 43 couples the threaded ends of the rods together inside the pontoon structure. As will be well understood, when the turnbuckle 43 is rotated in one direction, the rod members 38 are drawn together thereby tightly Securing the end cap members 37 to the open octagonal end members 32. Access to the turnbuckle is had by removal of one of the side walls 36 from the pontoon. All of the joints between the building units in the pontoons are of the water proof type whereby the pontoons are bouyant.

The roadway structure 34 Vcomprises a plurality of vertically positioned triangular-shaped building units 21a joined together along adjacent short-length sides, thereby forming; plane', beam members; 46- between adiecent; pon toons. The ends of the beams terminate in forty-live- (415;), degree inclined edges' which are suitably fastened to a side wall 36 of a pontoon 33.., As` seen4 in. Figurev 3, ve. (:)l triangular-shaped building, units 21a. are shown joined together to7 form the. beam member 46 between pontoons- 33. If the bridge. is to. support greater weight; thepontoons; may. be positioned closer together by using shorter length beams'46 made by employing only three triangular-shaped buildingI units. 21a in each beanfr` memf b er 46, for example.` The number of triangularfshaped members, 21a. used to forma beam 46 is, obviously,E not restrictedl to. tive; 5:), asY shown.

A roadway` surface is. formed byV a plurality. of. large rectangular-shaped plate members 47v supportedA upon; and suitably attached to, the pontoons and the beam Irlenlbers46l between pontoons.. The adjacentplatefmembers. 47 are joined. together inl anabuttingA edgewise. man? ner to, form al level. roadway` surface. Side walls, or safety-rail members 48,. are. attached toy the side edges of; thel plate: members. 4.7 and; extendvertically upwardly therefrom.l Addedy support for.l the, vertical side walls 48 is provided by transverse,` and vertically. positioned, supporting members. 49. fastened to the upper-most. side wall 36 of. the pontoons: 33, and: tov the outsidefcezof the. side wallsl 48. The supporting members 49,may com+ prise triangular-shaped members 21a of the typev usediin the-construction ofthe ends 32 and beams 46.

After the bridgeis assembled, itmay. be anchored-.in placerby: the usev of.; lines S1. suitably secured at one. end to the hook eyes 39. atthe; end.. of thel rod members 38. 'I The other. end, off the.1ines,.51 aresuitabl'y` fastened under. the water, as to a post 52 driven into the ground, as seenin `Figure 5.. j

The pontoon.I bridge isf made. oi building,- units which y are *easilyr assembled.. "Ehe: connection, or joints,=l.between building units mayy be, formed. inthe manner` described above. for; use in.v the buildingi shown in1Figures; 1 and 2;- or, any, other,l suitablev joint. construction may.. be used. Thefcomponenb parts of the bridge` are preferably shippedjto the site in disassembled..,condition.

The bridge of our;l invention;y is.. not connedtouse on water as illustrated in the drawings. It willbe understoody that-the bridge also suited for. use inmarshland andv mire, thereby. providing. a. smooth roadway o ver the adverse land conditions,

Reference is now made to Figure. 6r ofthe. drawings whereinr there is, shown. a. vertical;A sectional view of. a buildingstructure 53. erectednponan ice.mass 5.4.. The

. building, structure- 53n is a, modified. form ofi' structure which utilizes only aportion of the. novel, octagonalf` shaped construction. oflour, invention in. the-side walls thereof. The, building. structure includesa double-thickness oor 56 made.. of aplurality of square-shaped-build-` ingunits 13y ofthe, type used in the constructionof .the buildingk 10, shownl in Figuresl land 2and described above. The .oorismadef six (6)' ofthe square-shaped units in E length and .may` be .made of' any I suitable. width. The lower layer, of, the double-thickness oorz. 56, is pro: videdlwithdteeth members 57 which extend in .both longi. tudinal directions of the building, therebypreventing 1011-, gitudinal movement of the building on the ice mass 54. A pair ofvertically extending` side walls 58 (only one of which is visible in the sectional view of "Figure 6) are attached to the-longitudinal edge of the door 56. The sidewalls '5.8A are made of a plurality,ofitriangularshaped buildingE units, designated 21 and 21c.through 2-1i,.of.the type usedinthe construction'of thebuilding .10- shown in Figures l and 2, and described above. The building units 21 and 21c through 2li are of identical construction, but are provided with diferent reference characters for purposes of discussion and identication. It will be noted that the building units designated 21e through 21g, at opposite ends of the building, are connected together to form a portion, or part, of an octagonal-shaped struc- 6 ture; thek octagonal, or partially octagonal. structure beingI common. to. all of the. buildings. of our invention..

Beginning adjacent the endsf ofthe building,. the triangular-shaped. building. units. 21a are attached to` the floor 56 along one short-length side of thel unit. End walls 59, which may comprise one or. more square-shaped units 13, are attached to the vertical short-length side of. the, units 21e.. One. short-length. sidev of the building units, 21d. isY fastened to the longv` diagonal side of the unitsl 2:14a whereby the other, short-lengthside. of the units 21d. provide inclined roof supportingA portions for the support of; inclinedI roof portions 61. The inclined roof portions', 61 may also be made. ofA one or more square,- shapedbuilding units 13;. One short-length side o f. the buildinggunits 21e is.: fastened'. tof the long diagonah side of thaunits, 21d whereby the other. shortflengthside of the units. 21e. provide a portion of a support for a dat-top roof, designated 62; the roof 62. comprising. a. plurality of square-shaped building4 units 13 positioned a spaced distance apart.. OrneA shortt-length. side-of. the. building units` Ziff isf fastened to.. the long. diagonal side ofthe units 21e.. A triangular-shaped building. unit. 21h. connectsf theVd two building; units.v Zlf;5 the. two short-length sides. of. the.- building, unit. 21h being. fastened to. the other short-length sides of the units 21f". OneshOIU-Iengtl. side of. the building unitsi 21g, is. fastened tothe long` diagonal side: o f. the units 21j, and the: other short-length: sides thereof are.l fastened together alongy the vertical: center of the side wa1l\58 onv a linedesignatedg63. It.will.be seen,j then, that. the building. units 21o-through. 21g, at each. end of the building-form portions:y of octagonalshapedupwardly arched structures which. structures are incorporated. in the*l side walls:58-of..the.building. The side walls, are. completed. byI the. use1 of triangular-shaped members?- 211'. fastened alongg their long. diagonal.. sides to thelon'g diagonal: sides. of the.-units:21g;. Sliding doors, designated19, eachcomprisingpair. of building units-21 fastened together along their long diagonal. sides, are mounted for. longitudinal movement. adjacent theside walls 58; thedoor 19 to4 theleft infFigure 6being shown in an open position,2and1the. door. 19 to, the-rightbeing shown in? a. closed position.

Additional support. is p rovided to. the building. by means ofinteriorbulkheads641fastenedbetween the side walls Stadjacent` the-roof 62.- Verticallysliding. doors 66 are slidably'mounted on the .bulkheadsl64.V

As mentionedv above, the.roof.62 ofthebuildingtcom p risesa plurality of .spaced units113.v The spaces: between the'roof units' 13'may be covered.- over. by useof units 13' slidably mounted; onthe. Hat-top, roofiportion. The units 13. maybe slid. away'from .theopenings intheroof thereby providing ventilationfmeans through'v the roof;

The building. 53is provided witha secondfoor level designatedl 67,.and.comprisingbuilding units. 13 suit. ably joined together, andtorthesidewalls 58: Ladders 68-provide accesstorthe second .door fromthefloor 565 The second floor level. 67. also.- adds. supportv to.- the building..

Storage units, designated. lgenerally 69, areprovided atfeach .end of the.lauildingyl The. storage units com. prise triangular-shaped sideA wall-members. 21.fastened to the..end l.walls 59; The .said walls -are provided .with an inclined storage unit roof 71 pivotally attached to 'the end; wall 59. Canvasmembers .72 .-mayi beusedg-tof'complete the storage'unitenclosure. Supplies, jdesigr 1ated.='73,- areshown in the storage units. j

Havingnow described. ourinventon-4 in. detailflin: accordance: with. the patent statutes, various `changes and;` modifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in this art, and it is intended that such changes and modi. cations shall fall within the spirit and scope of the in- Vention as recited in the following claims.

We claim:

l. A component of a building structure comprising,

a plurality of plane right isosceles triangular-shaped build-- ing units joined together in an edgewise abutting manner in the form of an open octagonal-shape, one short-length side of each of the said triangular-shaped building units forming one outer peripheral edge of the said component, and a portion of the long diagonal side of each of the said triangular-shaped building units forming an inner peripheral vedge thereof.

2. An octagonal-shaped building structure comprising: a oor and a roof which are of substantially identical construction and each comprising a plurality of plane Vright isosceles triangular-shaped building units joined together-in an open octagonal shape, the said building units in both the said floor and roof being connected together in an edgewise abutting manner whereby one short-length side of each of the said building units forms an outer peripheral edge of the said iloor and roof; and side wall members connected between the outer peripheral edge of the said floor and roof.

3. The invention as recited in claim 2 including a pair of plane right isosceles triangular-shaped building units slidably mounted on the said roof and forming sliding cover members over the opening therein, the said sliding cover members being slidable in parallel paths and adapted to abut -along adjacent edges in the closed position thereof.

4. A building structure comprising; a iioor and roof of substantially identical construction, each comprising a plurality of plane right isosceles triangular-shaped building units joined together in an open octagonal shape in a manner wherein one short-length side of each of the said triangular-shaped building units forms an outer peripheral edge of the said oor and roof, a portion of the long-diagonal side of each of the said triangularshaped building units forming an inner edge of the said oor and roof, and side wall member-s connected between the outer peripheral edge of the said oor and roof.

5. A building structure, comprising: a floor, a roof and a plurality of intermediate oors spaced between the said lower oor and roof, the said lower door, intermediate oors and roof being of substantially identical construction and each comprising eight (8) plane right isosceles triangular-shaped building units of uniform size joined together in an octagonal-shaped manner wherein one short-length side of each of the said triangularshaped building units forms an outer peripheral edge thereof; building side walls, the said side walls comprising a plurality of plane square-shaped building units, the length of the sides being substantially equal to the short length side of the said triangular-shaped building units, the said square-shaped building units being connected adjacent the edges thereof to the outer peripheral edges of the said oors and roof.

6. A building structure having a floor member, a pair of vertical side walls extending upwardly from the said u floor member at opposite sides thereof, and a roof member interconnecting the said side walls over the said loor member, the said side walls comprising a plurality of plane right isosceles triangular-shaped building units joined together in an edgewise abutting manner in an open upwardly extending arch shape, a portion of the long diagonal side of a plurality of the said triangularshaped building units forming a doorway in the said side walls.

7. The invention as recited in claim 6 including door members made of a pair 0f plane right isosceles triangular-shaped building units joined together in an abutting relation along their long diagonal edges, and means slidably mounting the said door members on the said Wall 8 members `for closure'of the saiddoorway in the said side walls.

8. A building structure comprising a oor member; a pair of vertically extending side walls attached to the said oor member adjacent the edges thereof, the said side walls each lcomprising a plurality of plane right isosceles triangular-shaped building units joined together in an edgewise abutting manner and forming a pair of upwardly arched structures, the building units in each of the said arched structures being joined together wherein one short-length side abuts the long diagonal side of the adjacent triangular-shaped building unit, the said pair of arched structures in each side wall being joined t0- gether along a vertically extending edge; and means forming a roof over the said oor member between the said side walls.

9. The invention as recited in claim 8 wherein the said upwardly-arched structures form doorways; and including doors slidably` mounted on the said wall members for closure of the said doorways.

10. A pontoon for use in a pontoon bridge comprising: a pair of spaced end members of substantially identical construction, each of the said end members cornprising a plurality of plane right isosceles triangular-shaped units joined together in an edgewise abutting manner in the form of an open octagonal-shape, one short-length side of each of the said triangular-shaped units forming one outer peripheral edge of the said end members; elongated side members extending between the said outer peripheral edges of the said end members; and plane end cap members adjacent the endmembers and covering the openings in the said open octagonal-shaped end members.

11. The invention as recited in claim l0 including means forming holes through the said end cap members; rod members extending through the said holes, turnbuckle means threadedly coupling the said rod members together within the said pontoon; means forming a seal between the said rod members and end cap members adjacent the holes therein; and hook eye members on the outer ends ofthe said rod members, the hook eye members being of greater dimension than the said holes in the end caps.

12. A pontoon bridge comprising: a plurality of pontoon members positioned a spaced distance apart, each ofthe said pontoon members comprising a pair of spaced end members, the said end members including a plurality of plane right isosceles triangular-shaped. units joined together in the form of a plane open octagonal shape, end cap members covering the openings-in the said open octagonal-shaped end members, elongated side members fastened between the outer peripheral edge of the said end members; elongated plane Vertical beam members fastened to the said pontoon side members thereby connecting adjacent pontoon members together, each beam` member comprising a plurality of plane right isosceles triangular-shaped units joined together along adjacent short-length sides thereof; and rectangular plate members supported upon the said pontoons and interconnectingbeam members, the said "plate members forming a roadway thereon.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,202,402 Meaden et al. Oct. 29, 1916 1,806,354 Lange May 19, 1931 2,358,704 Goudy Sept. 19, 1944 

